Honda to start operations in fourth facility in 2016

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI), the Japanese two-wheeler major, is expecting its upcoming facility in Gujarat to start operations from the beginning of 2016.

The new facility, coming up with an investment of around Rs 1,100 crore, is expected to start contributing to its business from the year 2016-17, Keita Muramatsu, president and CEO of HMSI said.

Speaking to the reporters in the sidelines of the company’s launch of new motorcycle CB Unicorn 160, he said that the facility would be the fourth plant of the company in India and would have the flexibility to manufacturing scooter or motorcycles as per the market demand.

The company is also planning to launch its 650 cc bike in India in July, assembling it locally and focusing mainly in Indian market in the initial years.

The country contributed 25 per cent of the global Honda motorcycle sales this year and will remain Honda’s priority market globally. He said that the company is planning to launch 15 new models including seven brand new models.

The new CB Unicorn 160, placed as a performance motorcycle for the youth, is launched with an ex-showroom price starting from Rs 75,535, said the company.